Modular system to store data

ABSTRACT

A modular data storage system is disclosed. The data storage system comprises at least one module housing. Each housing has a front chamber and a rear chamber running parallel to a front side of the module housing and extending across a width of the module housing. An open shaft is arranged between the front chamber and the rear chamber. The shaft extends across the width of the module housing. The front chamber is adapted to receive at least two storage modules adapted to hold storage media, and the rear chamber is adapted to receive at least one function module for the data storage media. At least one transfer unit is arranged in the shaft. The transfer unit has a vertically traveling elevator and a carriage adapted to travel on the elevator between the front chamber and the rear chamber. The carriage has a grip mechanism for the data storage media.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/270,519, filed Feb.21, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a modular system to store data.

[0004] 2. Related Art

[0005] In electronic data processing, storage media are used for theexternal storage of data. The data can be recorded on and read from saidstorage media such as, for example, CDs, DVDs and magnetic tapes. Tostore large amounts of data, systems are used where a larger number ofsuch storage media are deposited in a magazine. A transfer unit takesthe storage media from the magazine and transfers them to a drive wherethe data are read by the storage media. If the storage media are disks,i.e., CDs or DVDs, such systems are frequently called jukebox systems.If the storage media are magnetic tapes, such systems are frequentlycalled tape libraries.

[0006] The known systems of this type have a magazine for a specifictype of storage medium and a drive for this type of storage medium. Eachsystem is therefore suitable only for a specific type of storage media.The storage capacity of the system is furthermore limited by thecapacity of the magazine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] In the following the invention will be explained in furtherdetail in conjunction with embodiment examples depicted in the drawings,in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective frontal view of a module housing accordingto the invention, with a partial view of a second stacked modulehousing;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front side of the modulehousing illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear side of the modulehousing illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a top view of the module housing, with the top coverremoved;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a transfer unit;and

[0013]FIG. 6 is a top view of the transfer unit illustrated in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0014] One embodiment of the invention is comprised of a modular systemhaving module housings that can be modularly assembled. Each modulehousing has a front chamber and a rear chamber, with an open shaft beingarranged between the front chamber and the rear chamber. Interchangeablestorage modules, which can hold the respective storage media, can beinserted into the front chamber that is accessible from the front side.Function modules, such as the drives for the storage media, may beinserted into the rear chamber. A transfer unit is arranged in the openshaft. The transfer unit has an elevator that can travel vertically. Acarriage that can travel horizontally and has a grip mechanism for thestorage media is arranged on the elevator. With the vertically travelingelevator and the horizontally traveling carriages on the elevator, thegrip mechanism can be driven to any position of the storage module toremove or deposit a respective storage medium. In the same way, the gripmechanism can be driven in front of each function module to deposit orremove the respective storage medium there.

[0015] The arrangement of the storage module and the function module inthe front chamber and the rear chamber of the module housing and thearrangement of the transfer unit between said chambers results in acompact construction of the module housing and a large storage capacity.Various storage modules can be inserted into the module housing, thusenabling a flexible use of the system for various storage media. Variousfunction modules can be inserted into the rear chamber, with the numberof the inserted function modules also being variable. For example, it ispossible to insert two drives so that, with an alternating operation ofthe two drives, the storage media can be read in direct succession andwithout any time gaps. It is furthermore possible to insert additionalfunction modules into the drives, such as a flipper that turns overtwo-sided written discs, or a CD burner.

[0016] Depending on the space requirement of the function module in therear chamber, it is also possible to insert additional storage modulesin said rear chamber.

[0017] The open shaft of the module housing makes it possible to stacktwo or more module housings on top of one another. The result is an openvertical shaft that passes through all module housings. The transferunit and its elevator can travel in the through-shaft from one modulehousing into the module housing above or below, which allows for simpleexpandability of the system. Particularly, it is possible to stackadditional module housings, which are equipped only with storagemodules, onto a module housing with function modules. For example, theymay have storage modules in the front as well as in the rear chamber.This enables a random expansion of the storage capacity. The modularexpansion can be retrofitted without any additional installation effort.

[0018] The dimensions of the module housing may be chosen such that itcan be preferably inserted into a conventional 19-inch rack.

[0019] Referring now to the drawings, a system in accordance with theinvention is illustrated. The system comprises a module housing 10 intowhich storage modules and function modules can be inserted in a mannercorresponding to the requirements of the user. For example, the storagemodules can be magazines that hold CDs, DVDs or magnetic tapes. Thefunction modules can be appropriate drives, such as CD drives, DVDdrives or tape drives. Likewise, a flipper may be inserted as a functionmodule to turn over disks that are, for example, writeable on bothsides. The module housing furthermore has a transfer unit that transfersthe disks or tapes between the storage modules and the function modules.

[0020] The module housings 10 can be used individually, for example, asa jukebox. Alternatively, it is possible to arrange two or more modulehousings 10 above one another, whereby a transfer unit can also travelvertically through two or more stacked module housings 10 to transferdisks or tapes between the modules of the various module housings 10.This allows a random modular expansion of the number of storage modulesand thus the storage capacity, as well as an expansion of the number ofthe function modules. The individual module housings 10 of the systemcan be stacked on top of one another to stand freely. Preferably, thedimensions of the module housings 10 are such that they can be insertedinto a conventional 19-inch rack.

[0021] FIGS. 1 to 4 show one complete module housing 10 onto which asecond module housing 10 has been stacked. The stacked second modulehousing 10 is shown only partially to allow better visibility of theinterior construction of the module housing 10.

[0022] The module housing 10 has the form of a cuboid with a width ofpreferably 19 inches and a height of preferably four to six U-rasterunits. The module housing 10 is open on the front side and the rear sideand may be closed by the vertical sidewalls 12 on the sides. When themodule housing 10 is assembled, the front side of the module housing 10is accessible to the user. At the front side and parallel to the frontside, the module housing 10 has a front chamber 14 that extends over theentire width of the module housing 10, is open at its front side and itsrear side, and is closed on the bottom by a floor plate 16 and on thetop by a cover plate 18. In the rear area of the module housing 10, arear chamber 20 is arranged, which is also open on its front side andits rear side, and is closed on the bottom by a floor plate 22 and onthe top by a cover plate 24. The rear chamber 20 extends parallel to thefront chamber 14 across the entire width and height of the modulehousing 10. The front chamber 14 and the rear chamber 20 are spacedapart such that there is a vertical shaft 26 in the module housing 10between the front chamber 14 and the rear chamber 20 which is open onthe top and the bottom. In vertical direction to the front of the modulehousing 10, the front chamber 14, the rear chamber 20 and the shaft 26each have a depth that corresponds to the dimensions of the storagemodule and the function module or the data storage media (e.g., disks,tapes). Furthermore, a reception space 28 is provided in the modulehousing 10 at the rear side of the module housing 10 behind the rearchamber 20.

[0023] As is shown most clearly in FIG. 1, storage modules can beinserted interchangeably into the front chamber 14. The storage modulescan be inserted from the open front side of the module housing 10 intothe front chamber 14, or they can be removed from said front chamber 14.The storage modules are preferably designed as magazines, each of whichcan accommodate several disks or tapes, for example. In the embodimentshown in the figures, three CD magazines 30 can be inserted side-by-sideinto the front chamber 14. In the illustrated example, only one CDmagazine 30 is inserted in the center position, while the two sidereception positions are free. To insert the CD magazines 30, guide rails32 may be arranged on the floor plate 16, and guide rails 34 may bearranged at the cover plate 18. The guide rails 32, 34 may guide andlock the CD magazines 30 in the front chamber 14. The CD magazine 30shown in the illustrated example may be designed in a known manner sothat the CD magazine 30 can accommodate a plurality of horizontallystacked “naked” CDs. It is readily apparent that it is also possible toinsert magazines for other data storage media into the front chamber 14,such as magazines for CDs or DVDs in caddies, or magazines where threeto five magnetic tapes are arranged above one another. Magazines forcaddies or tapes have a greater width than the CD magazine 30 shown inthe illustration, so that only two such magazines may be insertedside-by-side into the front chamber 14, if the module housing 10 has awidth of 19 inches, for example. The front chamber 14 is accessible tothe user at the front side of the module housing 10 so that the user canswitch the storage modules at any time to have other stored dataavailable in the system. The storage modules are inserted into the frontchamber 14 in such a way that the storage media are accessible and canbe removed from the shaft 26.

[0024] In the rear chamber 20, function modules may be inserted toexecute the respective desired functions. Such function modules may bedrives for CDs, DVDs or tapes, for example. Furthermore, it is possibleto insert a flipper as a function module to turn over disks that containdata on both sides. It is also possible to insert other devices such asa CD burner or a printer as function modules. The number of functionmodules that can be inserted into the rear chamber 20 depends on thewidth and height of the function modules. In the illustrated embodiment,six function modules are inserted, whereby two groups of functionmodules are inserted side-by-side and each group is comprised of threefunction modules arranged on top of one another. For example, two CDdrives 36, one DVD drive 38, a flipper 40 and a CD burner 42 areinserted. The rear side chamber 20 may have vertical guide walls 44 withattached horizontal guide rails 46 for the function modules. The widthof the function modules 36, 38, 40 and 42 may be such that only twofunction modules can be arranged side-by-side in the width of a 19-inchmodule housing 10. In addition to these two function modules, there maybe free space 48 in the width of the rear chamber 20 which can be usedto house the control electronics. The function modules are inserted inthe rear chamber 20 in such a way that they are accessible from theshaft 26 for the transfer of the storage media.

[0025] The robotics for the operation of the function module and cablesmay be housed in the reception space 28 arranged behind the rear chamber20. Thus, they may be arranged out of sight and protected on the rearside of the module housing 10, facing away from the user.

[0026] The rear chamber 20 may be used not only to receive functionmodules, but also to receive storage modules. For example, it ispossible to use part of the rear chamber 20 to insert function modulesand part to insert storage modules. This may increase the storagecapacity of the system. If several module housings 10 are stacked in thejukebox system, the option shown in the illustration is particularlysuitable to use the rear chamber 20 of a module housing to receivefunction modules and, in case of stacked additional module housings 10,provide the front chamber 14 as well as the rear chamber 20 exclusivelyfor the reception of storage modules. This allows an almost limitlessexpansion of the storage capacity of the system. Accordingly, in theembodiment shown in the illustration, the rear chamber 20 is provided toreceive CD magazines 30 in the same way as the front chamber 14 when theupper module housing 10 is stacked, which is apparent because the floorplate 20 of the rear chamber 20 has the same guide rails 32 as the floorplate 16 of the front chamber 14.

[0027] A transfer unit 50, which is shown separately in FIGS. 5 and 6,is arranged in the open center shaft 26 of the module housing 10. Thetransfer unit 50 removes the data storage media (e.g., disks, tapes)from the storage modules and transports them to the function modules,and vice versa it again transports the data storage media from thefunction modules back to the storage modules.

[0028] The transfer unit 50 has an elevator 52. The elevator 52 has sidebearers 54 that are connected by a cross strut 56 and guide rods 58. Theelevator 52 is arranged horizontally and parallel to the chambers 14 and20 in the shaft 26 so that its side bearers 54 are adjacent to thesidewalls 12 of the module housing 10. In the side bearers 54, a spindle60 is arranged to rotate therewith, which can be controlled and drivenby means of an electrical step motor 62. At both ends of the spindle 60,which project past the side bearers 54, one each pinion gear 64 isattached. Furthermore, two guide rollers 66 are run on the outside ofthe side bearers 54 to freely rotate therewith.

[0029] At the interior side of the side walls 12 of the module housing10, a rack 68 and a guide bead 70 are arranged parallel side-by-side inthe area of the shaft 26 vertically across the entire height of the sidewalls 12. The elevator 52 engages with the pinion gears 64 of itsspindle 60 in the racks 68. Each of guide rollers 66 rests on the guidebeads 70 with both sides. If the step motor 62 causes the spindle 60 toturn, the elevator runs up or down in the racks 68 by means of thepinion gears 64, depending on the turning direction of the spindle 60.In this way, the elevator 52 is guided by the guide rollers 66. Becauseeach of the racks 68 and the guide beads 70 are guided to the upper andthe lower edge of the open shaft 26, the racks 68 and the guide beads 70of the stacked module housings 10 are in true alignment when the modulehousings 10 are stacked, as is shown in particular in the FIGS. 2 and 3.Thus, the elevator 52 can travel in the shafts 26 of the stacked modulehousings 10 vertically across several module housings 10.

[0030] A carriage 72 that can travel horizontally is arranged in theelevator 52. The carriage 72 is guided on the guide beads 58 and isdriven by means of an electrical step motor that engages through apinion gear 74 into a rack 76, which is arranged at the cross strut 56.By means of the step motor, the carriage 72 can travel horizontally inthe elevator 52. The vertical travel of the elevator 52 in one or morestacked module housings 10 and the horizontal travel of the carriage 72in the elevator 52, allow a controlled positioning of the carriage ateach module in the front chamber 14 and the rear chamber 20 of eachmodule housing 10. The power supply for the electrical motors and thecontrol of the transfer unit 50 may be provided through a conductor rail78 that runs parallel to the rack 68 and the guide bead 70 on aninterior side wall 12 of the module housing 10. The drive control of thetransfer unit 50 may be wireless, for example, through infrared signals.Thus, the transfer unit 50 can travel in a way that no problemsassociated with cables being dragged along are encountered. It ispossible to stack the module housings 10 and to achieve a controlledtravel of the transfer unit 50 through several module housings 10without requiring additional connections or cables in the assembly ofthe module housing 10.

[0031] The carriage 72 may have a grip mechanism 80 that is driven by anelectrical motor and controlled electronically, for example. Because theconstruction of the motor is not an object of the invention, it is notdescribed here in detail. The function of the grip mechanism isdescribed below in the following description of the method of operation.

[0032] In the system, the carriage 72 may be positioned in front of astorage module according to a control command. By means of the gripmechanism 80, a storage medium (e.g., disk, tape) may be pulled out ofthe storage module and positioned on the carriage 72. According to acontrol command, the carriage 72 may then travel to a function module(for example, a drive) and may be positioned in front of the functionmodule. The function module may be operated by the robotics to eject thetray of the function module. The grip mechanism 80 may transfer thestorage medium to the tray so that the storage medium can be insertedinto the function module. Similarly, the function module can transfer astorage medium to the positioned carriage 72. The carriage 72 may thentravel in front of a triggered storage module to again deposit thestorage medium in the storage module by means of the grip mechanism 80.

[0033] If the function module is a flipper 40 that turns over a disk,the disk may be transferred to the flipper 40 by means of the carriage72 and handed off to the flipper 40. Then the elevator 52 may travelvertically until the carriage 72 has sufficient vertical distance forthe flipper 40 to turn over the disk around a horizontal axis. Then theelevator 52 may again travel vertically to the flipper 40 so that thegrip mechanism 80 can take the now turned disk from the flipper 40.

[0034] As described, a modular system in accordance with the inventioncan be operated as jukebox with CD- and/or DVD magazines, for example.The modular system can also be operated as a tape library with magnetictapes. A combination of the two systems is also possible, whereby diskdrives as well as tape drives are used.

[0035] With several module housings 10 arranged above one another, it isalso possible for two or more transfer units 50, for example for variousstorage media, to travel above one another in the same racks 68 andguide beads 70. This allows for a further increase in capacity,versatility and speed of the system.

[0036] While particular embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed, it is to be understood that various different modificationsand combinations are possible and are contemplated within the truespirit and scope of the appended claims. There is no intention,therefore, of limitations to the exact abstract or disclosure hereinpresented. List of reference symbols 10 module housing 12 side walls 14front chamber 16 floor plate 18 cover plate 20 rear chamber 22 floorplate 24 cover plate 26 shaft 28 reception space 30 CD magazine 32 guiderails (10) 34 guide rails (18) 36 CD drive 38 DVD drive 40 flipper 42 CDburner 44 guide walls 46 guide rails 48 space for electronics 50transfer unit 52 elevator 54 side bearers 56 cross strut 58 guide rods60 spindle 62 step motor 64 pinion gear 66 guide rollers 68 rack 70guide beads 72 carriage 74 pinion gear 76 rack 78 conductor rail 80 gripmechanism

What is claimed is:
 1. A data storage system, comprising: at least onemodule housing, said module housing having a front chamber and a rearchamber, said front and rear chambers running parallel to a front sideof the module housing and extending across a width of the modulehousing; an open shaft being arranged between the front chamber and therear chamber, said shaft extending across the width of the modulehousing; wherein said front chamber is adapted to receive at least twostorage modules adapted to hold storage media, wherein said rear chamberis adapted to receive at least one function module for the data storagemedia, and at least one transfer unit arranged in the shaft, saidtransfer unit having a vertically traveling elevator and a carriageadapted to travel on the elevator between the front chamber and the rearchamber, said carriage having a grip mechanism for the data storagemedia.
 2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shaft isopen on its upper side and its lower side so that an integral open shaftis created through all module housings when two or more module housingsare stacked on top of one another.
 3. The system in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the shaft has vertical guides on both sides to guidethe elevator.
 4. The system in accordance with the claim 2, wherein theguides of the two module housings are in vertical alignment for at leastone elevator when two module housings are stacked on top of one anotherso that said at least one elevator can travel continuously vertically inthe connecting shafts of the stacked module housings.
 5. The system inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the storage modules comprise diskmagazines for CDs and/or DVDs.
 6. The system in accordance with claim 5,wherein the function modules comprise at least one disk drive.
 7. Thesystem in accordance with claim 6, wherein the function modules comprisea flipper and/or a CD burner and/or a printer.
 8. The system inaccordance with claim 1, wherein at least two module housings arestacked on top of one another, one of said module housings having atleast one function module in the rear chamber and at least one othermodule housing having storage modules in the front chamber and the rearchamber.
 9. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said modulehousing is adapted to be integrated into a 19-inch rack.
 10. The systemin accordance with claim 3, wherein the elevator comprises an electricalmotor adapted to drive pinion gears, said pinion gears being adapted toengage into vertical racks arranged continuously vertically on sidewallsof the module housing so the elevator can travel vertically.
 11. Thesystem in accordance with claim 1, wherein the power supply and thecontrol of the transfer unit are wireless.
 12. A data storage system,comprising: a front chamber adapted to receive one or more modules; arear chamber adapted to receive one or more modules, said rear chamberbeing substantially parallel to said front chamber and being spacedapart from said front chamber, thereby forming an open shaft betweensaid front chamber and said rear chamber; and at least one transfer unitarranged in said open shaft, said transfer unit having an elevatoradapted to travel along a first axis, and a carriage adapted to travelon the elevator along a second axis, said carriage having a gripmechanism adapted to grip data storage media.
 13. The system accordingto claim 12 wherein at least one of said rear chamber comprises at leastone function module.
 14. The system according to claim 12 wherein atleast one of said front chamber comprises at least one data storagemodule, said data storage module being adapted to store data storagemedia.